The Hunt for my IRA

This year I’ve been on the hunt for my ideal reader. The name I created for this reader is IRA, which stands for Ideal Reader Activist. Since I haven’t been able to meet any near me to chat around a cup of coffee, I began a Virtual Coffee Shop on Instagram. This is where I have a chance to talk to all my IRAs. Anyone who wants to join, I’ll send you an invitation link.

Meet Abby

Abby’s Instagram handle is @absolutelyabby.reads . She has been on my cover reveal team and ARC team for The Aerowyn Tales. I enjoy her posts about family, books, and her local bookstore. If geography wasn’t an issue, I could have easily chatted with Abby in person, because she comes across as a down-to-earth, friendly person to welcome you into her circle. I would have loved to interview her inside that delightful bookstore she shows regularly on Instagram, but sadly we live in separate states.

Find Abby here: https://www.instagram.com/absolutelyabby.reads/

This interview was done over DM. I suppose if I ever get the guts to do a face-to-face screen chat, it would seem more like a coffee chat, but it still wouldn’t be as fun as sipping coffee with a treat at a bookstore cafe. Abby said she’d have Venti White Chocolate Mocha with sweet cream foam and extra caramel drizzle. I might try that instead of my usual skinny French Vanilla latte. I’m up for new flavors.

Grab your own favorite beverage and enjoy getting to know Abby.

(In parenthesis I wrote my reactions to some of Abby’s answers because you can’t see them.)

Interview

Personal questions

Carla: What brings a smile to your face?

Abby: My children’s laughter, my mothers “poor man” pancakes, and my husbands attempt to sing. (I love this!)

Carla: What are “poor man” pancakes?

Abby: Poor man pancakes are a traditional, ultra-budget-friendly dish made from basic pantry staples. They typically use a simple batter of flour, sugar, and water (or milk). Cooked flat in a lightly greased skillet, they result in a thin, slightly chewy, and sweet treat similar to a crepe or a sweet tortilla. (My own mother made pancakes from scrap. They were similar to this, but didn’t have the sugar and used something to make them fluffy.)

Carla: What are your favorite activities? If money or time was no object, what activities would you do?

Abby: I love to read, so naturally I would spend a good bit on gorgeous sprayed edges and read all day long!

 

Book Questions

Carla: What are your favorite books, and what did you love about them?

Abby:

• Quarter Labyrinth by Victoria McCombs
  • Deadly puzzles & stone gods
• The Emerald Queen series
  • 7 kingdoms 7 curses, ancient magic, and mythical creatures
• Esperance/Invictus by Heather Frost
  • Enemies to lovers, romance, & actioned pack with surprising twists?!

Carla: What attracted you first to my books?

Abby: Your beautifully illustrated book covers! I love their designs and how they correspond with each other! (I have a HUGE grin.)

Carla: What do you like most about my writing?

Abby: I love how immersive your writing is! I feel like I’m personally living out the story. (This makes me SUPER HAPPY.)

Carla: What genres do you typically read?

Abby: I typically read Fantasy, Historical Fiction, and Mystery/Suspense.

Carla: Where do you get your book recommendations?

Abby: I get my book recommendations from Bookstagram of course! My TBR is never ending. lol (This is true for me too!)

Carla: What topics, genres, or tropes are you currently looking for?

Abby: I am always looking for dragons, magic, epic adventures, and morally grey mafia. (Now I’m distracted by my current WIP dragon story on how to please Abby with it.)

Carla: What makes a book worth recommending to a friend?

Abby: Any book that makes a mother of 2 young children read past 2am is definitely worth recommending IYKY (I looked this up because I’m a ding dong. It means “If you know, you know” LOL)

Carla: What frustrates you about books? What do you feel is missing?

Abby:

• Price Stickers on the front covers
• Misleading covers
• No trigger/content warning pages (I need to add this to my books. I do have it in the description section on my website.)
• Untrimmed/jagged edges
• When a book series isn’t all the same height

Carla: What kind of story do you feel you need right now?

Abby: Any story that can help transport me to another world is what I need right now. My heart and mind has been broken these past few months with the loss of my father and other family drama that I just need an escape. (This is exactly the kind of books I want to write. So sorry for your loss, Abby, but I’m thankful books can give you a respite. I’m praying for God’s comfort.)

Carla: What type of content makes you stop reading a book and put it down?

Abby: I don’t typically read anything with open door scenes or at least try not too. I just don’t see the purpose of it. Also, overly used foul language, because it’s really not necessary to curse every other sentence. I don’t read anything involving lgbtqia+ characters. There’s no hate/judgement to those involved in that lifestyle it’s just not what I personally believe in. (I’m exactly on the same page with Abby on this.)

Carla: What kind of “extra” content would you love from an author?

Abby: I love when discussion questions are included in the back of books, author meetups, and online Q&As! (I need to figure out how to do all of this!)

Carla: What makes you buy a book? Is it the cover, the blurb, or reviews?

Abby: I would say all of the above! But I’m a sucker for a gorgeous cover (I would have said, “Aren’t we all” if talking in person.)

 

Ideal Reader

Carla: Why do you think you’re my ideal reader?

Abby: I think I’m your ideal reader, because I love wholesome love stories, and fairytale retellings with amazing plot twists that will allow me to escape from the hands of reality for a while.

 

Thank you Abby!

I want to thank Abby for volunteering to be interviewed. She’s a great supporter of indie authors. Anyone would be blessed to have her on their side.

If any of Abby’s answers sound like you, then perhaps you’re my IRA too! Now would be a good time to get my books and find out.